However, lawyer Can Atalay said Thursday that the court’s June decision is not final and is expected to be appealed at a higher administrative court. Atalay filed the lawsuit against the plans on behalf of a chamber of architects.

The demonstrations were sparked May 31 by a brutal police crackdown on an environmental sit-in against plans to build a replica Ottoman-era barracks at a park next to Istanbul’s landmark Taksim Square and morphed into an unprecedented challenge against Erdogan’s Islamic-rooted government.

In a concession to protesters, Erdogan promise to suspend redevelopment plans pending court rulings and a referendum.

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